Empowering Farmers – The Mobile Way

Tvm: IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd. (IKSL), the rural information and telecommunications subsidiary of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Ltd. (IFFCO) in partnership with Bharti Airtel is empowering the famers through their greencard product.

The joint venture company is harnessing the power of ICT to add value to the farm sector and empower the rural farmer by giving him access to vital information, which will enhance his livelihood and quality of life. IKSL offers products and services, specifically designed for farmers, through IFFCO societies in villages across the country. The service includes Green Card Mobile Connections, Mobile Handsets and Freeplay products (Conventional Energy based Torch & Lantern). These products were on display at the ICT conference organised by GTECH at Technopark.

Greencard Mobile users will get the benefits of 5 free voice messages on farming techniques, weather forecasts, dairy farming, animal husbandry, rural health initiatives, fertilizer availability, market prices of agri produces etc, on a daily basis in Malayalam. The customers also have call back facility to listen the last 5 Messages recorded at any time. They also have dedicated helpline, manned by experts from various fields to derive answers to specific queries related to agriculture and allied subjects. Greencard Mobile connections which have 5 free voice based messages can be used as the media for technology transfer or advisory to the farmers and rural community. The data relevant to the farmers and rural community can be sent to them through this media at free of cost.

IKSL has started the operations through PACS (Primary Agriculture Credit Society) in the state and is in the process of expanding the operations through KVK’s, Dairy Department, NABARD, KAU, etc. Presently IKSL is having 340 plus retailers with 60000 plus Green Card Mobile customers spread across the state.

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is one of the largest producer of fertiliser in the co-operative sector is serving the farming community in India for the last four decades through manufacturing and marketing of various agro inputs, educating farmers in agriculture and allied activities, and also supporting our country for self sufficiency in agriculture productions through forty thousand member co-operative societies across the country.